10 Easy DIY Projects You Can Make With Leather Scraps

Leather scraps are a useful and affordable material for makers, small businesses, and DIY hobbyists. Even the smallest pieces can be turned into functional items. Whether you’re experimenting for fun, making gifts, or building products to sell, leather scrap bundles offer creative options. This guide covers ten beginner-friendly projects you can make using scrap leather, along with the essential tools you need and tips for better results.

Working with leather scraps is suitable for beginners because the pieces are small, inexpensive, and easy to handle. You don’t need advanced tools or experience—just a few basic supplies and a simple idea. Leather scraps also come in many colors and thicknesses, allowing you to test different styles without committing to a full hide. From jewelry to keychains to coasters, these projects are simple, fun, and perfect for anyone wanting to explore leathercraft.

One of the popular beginner projects is leather earrings. Lightweight chrome-tanned scraps are easy to cut and pair with metal hardware. You can create teardrops, chevrons, geometric shapes, or engraved designs using a laser cutter or a simple craft knife. Another project is leather keychains. With only a small strip of leather, a hole punch, and a keyring, you can make key fobs.

Leather bookmarks are another simple craft that requires minimal material and time. Cut a rectangle from a medium-sized scrap and engrave a quote or pattern. Bookmarks are suitable because they use very little leather. Leather coasters are equally beginner-friendly. Use medium or full-grain scraps to cut clean circles or squares, then engrave designs or seasonal themes. Leather naturally resists heat and moisture, making coasters practical.

Another project is making leather bracelets. A long, thin strip of scrap leather can become a wrap bracelet, cuff, or adjustable strap with just a snap fastener. Many makers use scraps to create minimalist money clips and card sleeves. These projects require slightly larger pieces but remain approachable for beginners using simple patterns. You can also make cord keepers from small leftover scraps—suitable for organizing earbuds, charging cables, and small electronics.

Leather bag tags and luggage tags are suitable mid-level beginner crafts. They use slightly larger pieces and can feature engraved text. These tags work well for travelers and students. Leather patches are another scrap project. Use small or medium scraps to create sew-on or heat-press patches for hats, jackets, bags, and apparel. With simple text engraving, you can offer general patches that appeal to small businesses.

Even very small scraps can be turned into zipper pulls or decorative tassels. These tiny accessories add value to bags, wallets, and handmade goods. Many makers save their smallest pieces to use as reinforcements in corners, seams, or key stress points. Laser cutting also opens up possibilities, such as ornaments, key tags, shapes, labels, and small pieces. Leather engraves well, especially in caramel and light brown tones that produce a clear contrast.

To make these projects, you only need a few basic tools. A sharp craft knife or rotary cutter is essential for clean cuts. A cutting mat protects your work surface and keeps lines straight. A simple hole punch set allows you to add hardware or stitching holes. Strong glue such as contact cement or leather adhesive helps reinforce edges or layers. For finishing touches, hardware like keyrings, jump rings, snaps, and lobster clasps can be purchased. If you own a laser cutter like a Glowforge or xTool, you can create crisp shapes, engravings, and repeatable designs easily.

Beginner makers often wonder what thickness they should use for different projects. Lightweight leather scraps ($0.8\text{mm}–1.2\text{mm}$) are suitable for earrings and flexible items. Medium thickness ($1.0\text{mm}–1.4\text{mm}$) is suitable for coasters, keychains, and patches. Thicker scraps ($1.4\text{mm}–2.0\text{mm}$) work well for wallets, straps, and structured goods. Because scrap bundles contain a mix of thicknesses, you can try a wide range of project types.

Selling scrap-based leather goods can be a profitable small business opportunity. Commonly sold leather items include earrings, keychains, coasters, patches, and bookmarks due to their lightweight nature and ease of shipping. Makers who work with scrap leather can benefit from low material costs and strong margins.

Leather scraps also offer sustainability benefits. Instead of being discarded during upholstery production, these off-cuts are repurposed into handmade goods. This reduces waste and allows makers to participate in eco-friendly crafting. Many customers seek products made from upcycled materials.

If you're looking for simple, profitable, and enjoyable projects, leather scraps are a rewarding material you can use. Whether you’re crafting for fun or building a business, these beginner-friendly ideas demonstrate how far small pieces of leather can go. With a few basic tools and some creativity, you can turn leftover scraps into goods that customers use every day.